Letter to Sr. Jairram Ramesh for bridge in Thuamul Rampur

To

Shri Jairam Ramesh,

Minister of Rural Development,

Government of India.

From

Bajrang Agrawal, Social Activist,

Dharamgarh, Kalahandi, Odisha

Date:

[Sub: Bridging the Gap]

Respected Sir,

The Constitution of India guarantees “The Right to Life with Dignity” as a Fundamental Right under Article – 21. One of the inferences which can be drawn from this article which would make it comprehensively meaningful can be “Socio-Economic Development of an Individual”. However for those 16 Villages of Thuamul-Rampur Block of Kalahandi District of Odisha, this article makes no sense.

This letter of mine is to bring to your notice about the plight of these 16 villages which, even after 65 years of Independence, lack several basic amenities and are unable to avail the benefits of various targeted as well as general schemes of the Government.

The Thuamul-Rampur block is a tribal dominated region. Its location to the south-east part of the district and borders with Maoists affected areas of Rayagada, Koraput and Nabrangpur, has only added to its poor plight. The presence of “Nagavalli River” and absence of a Bridge over it is the cruel culprit which acts as a hindrance to their socio-economic growth when viewed multidimensionaly.

The two GPs of the block which are badly affected are KERPAI and NAKRUNDI. Under this two GPs are those 16 villages which are totally separated from the rest of the district by the Nagavalli River. Villages under KERPAI GP are Sileth, Kandulguda, Maldipadar, Muskan, Marguda, Kardapadar, Dandel, Bilamal, Padikhanle, Kotkhali, Sarmandi, Dandpadar and Bodijhola. Villages under NAKRUNDI GP are Durbelguda, Jhanji and Sinerguda.

Be it the initiatives in Education or Health Sector, or executions of Schemes like Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikarn Yojana, PDS scheme and many more, none finds a place in their growth agenda. The main reason which can be cited for this very plight is the absence of Bridge over the Nagavalli River. Lack of bridge makes it difficult for the Administrators to make a visit to the place. It becomes difficult for the administration to implement various schemes of the Central as well as State Government. The Villagers toil hard to make a visit to the nearest market to sell their produce or avail several social security needs. During Monsoons, a temporary bridge is laid to aid to and fro.

Its high time that a permanent solution to this problem is mooted and acted upon. Socio-Economic growth is the right of every individual and if laying a bridge supplements it then, I feel, without a second thought we should go with it.

I hope you will consider this letter seriously and take action at the earliest to galvanize growth process in these villages. An action of yours will ensure pure growth with alleviated opportunities.

For your easy understanding, I am appending two maps with this letter.

Hope for a favourable and rapid action in this regard.

Thank You Sir.

Yours Faithfully

Bajrang Agrawal

Social Activist, Dharamgarh, Kalahandi, Odisha.

Email_Id: bajrang81@gmail.com